Press Releases
Support Grows for Emergency Broadband Connection Act
Washington, D.C. - Ahead of planned Senate discussions on the next relief bill for the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., announced support from dozens of new organizations for the Emergency Broadband Connections Act, and two new cosponsors. The National Digital Inclusion Alliance announced its endorsement for Wyden's bill on June 30. Over 220 other advocacy groups also joined together July 8 on behalf of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights to write in support of … Continue Reading
July 17, 2020
Merkley, Wyden, Blumenauer, Bonamici Call for Investigations into Federal Operatives in Portland
PORTLAND, OR - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, with U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici, today announced that they will be asking the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) offices of Inspector General to investigate the unrequested presence and violent actions of federal forces in Portland. The request for investigations follows federal operatives shooting a peaceful protester in the head, causing serious … Continue Reading
July 16, 2020
Wyden, Schumer, Senate Democrats Announce Historic Proposal For $350 Billion Investment In Communities Of Color
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senate Democrats to unveil a major new legislative proposal to invest $350 billion in Black communities and other communities of color. Wyden and his colleagues' plan would make a significant federal commitment to communities of color through ten major investments over the next five years in historically underfunded areas like public health, child care, infrastructure and job … Continue Reading
July 16, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $700,000 in Funding for Federal and State Drinking Water Partnerships, Salmon Recovery, and Biomass Development
Washington, DC - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the Drinking Water Providers Partnership, which supports collaboration between federal and state agencies and nonprofits, is allocating over $370,000 to eight projects in Oregon that will help improve drinking water quality and salmon habitat. In addition, the Oregon Coast Salmon Restoration Environmental Impact Fund Feasibility Study will receive $140,000, and the Biomass Energy Implementation Fund-which … Continue Reading
July 16, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Announce Millions in Grants for Oregon Small and Rural Hospitals
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that Oregon will receive more than $16 million in grants to support health care providers that have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. The funding will target small and rural hospitals, as well as certain acute care hospitals. The funding is being distributed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). "Small and rural hospitals are critical to their communities, and in many cases … Continue Reading
July 16, 2020
Wyden: New Three-Digit Mental Health Hotline Will Create Much-Needed Lifeline
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden said people in Oregon and nationwide facing a mental health crisis will have a much-needed lifeline with today's Federal Communications Commission (FCC) decision designating a new nationwide three-digit 988 phone hotline. Citing alarming suicide statistics from Oregon and throughout out the United States, Wyden has been a long-time advocate for the FCC to take this step creating a three-digit number for people in a mental health crisis or considering … Continue Reading
July 14, 2020
Wyden, Merkley, Blumenauer and Bonamici Demand Answers from DHS and DOJ after Federal Agent Shoots Peaceful Protester in Head
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and U.S. Reps. Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici today demanded answers from the Trump administration after a federal agent shot a peaceful protester in the head with potentially deadly crowd-control munition. The Oregonian suffered a direct hit, resulting in a critical head injury, and is now hospitalized after undergoing surgery. In a letter to Attorney General William Barr and Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad … Continue Reading
July 13, 2020
Merkley, Wyden to President Trump: Remove Policies Discriminating Against LGBTQ Individuals
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with more than 100 members of Congress, are calling on President Trump to direct the federal government to remove all regulations, executive orders and agency policies that discriminate against LGBTQ individuals. The letter comes after the Supreme Court ruled in Bostock v. Clayton County that prohibitions on sex discrimination in federal civil rights laws extend to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation … Continue Reading
July 10, 2020
Wyden Bill to Help Non-Profits Passes House
Washington, DC - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden said today that House passage of legislation he introduced to help non-profits will help these key community groups to remain financially viable during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Nonprofit organizations in Oregon and nationwide are essential pieces of each community's response to weather the devastating economic and public health challenges leveled by the coronavirus," Wyden said. "As nonprofits battle to maintain an effective safety net, I am glad this … Continue Reading
July 10, 2020
Wyden, Merkley: Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon Secures $3.9 Million Federal Grant
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that the Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon (MHAAO) has earned a $3.96 million federal grant to help adults in the justice system re-enter the job market. "Employment is an essential piece of a successful strategy for people to make a successful re-entry into their communities," Wyden said. "I'm gratified that the Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon has earned these federal funds to help … Continue Reading
July 10, 2020
Wyden, Merkley: Two Oregon Healthcare Providers to Get Federal Aid for Telehealth Work During COVID-19
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that OCHIN in Portland and Community Health Centers of Benton and Linn Counties will receive $1.14 million in federal funds to help provide telehealth services during the coronavirus pandemic. "Recent spikes in new COVID-19 cases around the country highlight the urgent need to support the use of technology tools such as telehealth that protect Oregonians and the health care heroes who care for them," Wyden said. "I'm … Continue Reading
July 10, 2020
Merkley, Wyden, Bonamici, Blumenauer Urge ICE and DHS to Immediately Withdraw New Guidance that Threatens International Students with Deportation
Washington, DC - Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley led a group of 96 lawmakers in the Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, including Senator Ron Wyden and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici and Earl Blumenauer, in pushing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to withdraw new guidance issued by ICE that imperils the status of international students who would be studying online at U.S. institutions this coming academic year. The … Continue Reading
July 08, 2020
Wyden, Merkley: Warm Springs Housing Authority Will Receive $900,000 COVID-19 Grant
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that the Warm Springs Housing Authority has secured a $900,000 federal grant to help with the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. "Tribes throughout Oregon are battling hard to weather COVID-19's economic and public health fallout such as its impact on members' essential need to keep a roof over their heads," Wyden said. "I am gratified these housing resources are heading to the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, and … Continue Reading
July 07, 2020
Wyden Will Hold Virtual Town Hall on July 14
Portland - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today announced he will have a live on-line town hall on July 14 hosted by Town Hall Project for residents of Lane, Linn and Benton counties. Anybody wanting to watch that virtual regional town hall beginning at noon on Tuesday, July 14 can go to this Facebook link. Video at that link is available as well to people who don't have a Facebook account. Residents of Lane, Linn and Benton counties who would like to participate by asking Wyden a question can fill out … Continue Reading
July 07, 2020
Wyden, Merkley Co-sponsor Legislation to Investigate and Hold Police Officers and Departments Accountable for Discriminatory Practices
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced they are co-sponsoring legislation that would strengthen the federal and state governments' ability to investigate police departments with a pattern or practice of unconstitutional and discriminatory behavior. "Real change to uproot systemic racism in police departments demands a firm commitment to investigations that carry real accountability for law enforcement agencies when they violate civil rights," Wyden said. … Continue Reading
July 07, 2020
Wyden Co-sponsors 1619 Act to Raise Awareness, Understanding of African American History in Schools
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today announced his co-sponsorship of legislation to increase awareness and understanding of African American history across schools in Oregon and nationwide through expanded access to programming from the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The 1619 Act would provide federal funding to support African American History educational programs through workshops and professional development activities for educators. "African … Continue Reading
July 07, 2020
Wyden Demands Full Implementation and Enforcement of the Death in Custody Reporting Act
Washington, DC - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today called on Attorney General William Barr immediately to fully implement and enforce a law that requires states to report to the Department of Justice (DOJ) how many individuals die each year while in police custody or during the course of an arrest. Six years after Congress reauthorized the Death in Custody Reporting Act (DCRA), that law still has not been fully implemented or enforced, despite a 2018 DOJ Inspector General report that provided clear … Continue Reading
July 03, 2020
Wyden Co-Sponsors Bill to Protect Firefighters During COVID-19 Pandemic
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today announced his co-sponsorship of the COVID-19 as a Presumptive Disease in Wildland Firefighters Act to protect firefighters during the COVID-19 public health emergency. "Every year our wildland firefighters put their lives on the line to protect our communities in Oregon and nationwide from destruction and dangerous wildfire smoke. In the face of COVID-19, a disease that threatens the health of our lungs, their work has never been more … Continue Reading
July 02, 2020
Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues to Trump Administration: Don’t Rip Away Health Care from Millions During Public Health Crisis
Washington, D.C. - As the Trump administration keeps working to dismantle the health care law that provides coverage for millions of Americans, Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden have joined 45 of their Senate colleagues in introducing a resolution condemning that reckless effort. The senators also demanded the Department of Justice (DOJ) defend existing law in court, and halt its efforts to repeal the health care protections for millions of Americans-including 133 million … Continue Reading
July 02, 2020
Wyden, Merkley Introduce Legislation to Improve Water Access for Agriculture and Conservation as West Continues to Face Drought
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., today introduced legislation to help communities in Oregon and across the West experiencing high levels of drought. Their bill will improve water access for agriculture and conservation by funding projects that improve dam safety, create more resilient watersheds and benefit agricultural and urban water users. "At a time when the nation is suffering increased droughts that are hurting critical habitats and forcing farmers and … Continue Reading
